Sir Donald Barron Archive

Papers concerning the life and career of Sir Donald Barron, comprising records relating to Rowntree & Co Ltd/Rowntree Mackintosh, [1923]-2001; Joseph Rowntree Foundation [JRF], [1904]-2006; University of York, 1966-2003; York Merchant Adventurers, 1978-2000; Industry, Education and Management Working Party. 1978-1979; banking, 1979-1994; Lord Mayor of York’s Flood Relief Fund, 1979-1980; University Grants Committee, 1981; Yorkshire Club, 1987-1993; York Minster Finance Committee, 1988; York Mystery Plays, [1951]-1997; York Millennium Bridge Trust, 1996-2002; Sustrans, 1996-2001; York Civic Trust, 1950-2009; speeches and lectures, [1925]-[2000s]; and personal, 1953-2007.

Sir Donald James Barron was born in Scotland in 1921 to actuary Albert Gibson Barron and teacher Elizabeth Macdonald. He attended George Heriot’s School and later Edinburgh University where he qualified as a chartered accountant. During the Second World War he served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, rising to the rank of captain. He married his wife Gillian in 1956 and the couple raised five children together.
During his time at university Barron had studied the work of Quaker reformer Seebohm Rowntree and in 1952 he joined the Rowntree confectionery firm in York as an accountant. He rose quickly through the company ranks, becoming Chief Accountant in 1956, Finance Director in 1961, and then Vice Chairman in 1965, and finally Chairman in 1966, a position he held until his retirement in 1981. As Chairman he oversaw the merger of Rowntree & Co. Ltd with John Mackintosh & Sons to form Rowntree Mackintosh. He was knighted in 1972 and after his retirement he served as Chairman of Midland Bank.
In addition to his work for the Rowntree company, Barron also served as a trustee and later Chairman of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (then the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust) between 1966 and 1996, and was closely involved in the civic life of York. He was part of the campaign for the creation of a University of York, initially as Treasurer of the York Academic Trust from 1957, and then as York’s first University Treasurer from 1966 to 1972, and later the Chairman of the University Council from 1987 to 1990. He was also a member of the York Millennium Bridge Trust which commissioned and oversaw the creation of the Millennium Bridge and Riverside Walks adjacent to Rowntree Park, as well as holding positions with the Company of Merchant Adventurers, the York Civic Trust and the Sheldon Memorial Trust.
Barron died in December 2015 in York, at the age of 94.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws. 24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.
File DBAR/5/1/2 is currently closed.

The archive was gifted to the Borthwick Institute by Lady Barron in 2017.

Sir Donald James Barron was born in Scotland in 1921 to actuary Albert Gibson Barron and teacher Elizabeth Macdonald. He attended George Heriot’s School and later Edinburgh University where he qualified as a chartered accountant. During the Second World War he served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, rising to the rank of captain. He married his wife Gillian in 1956 and the couple raised five children together.
During his time at university Barron had studied the work of Quaker reformer Seebohm Rowntree and in 1952 he joined the Rowntree confectionery firm in York as an accountant. He rose quickly through the company ranks, becoming Chief Accountant in 1956, Finance Director in 1961, and then Vice Chairman in 1965, and finally Chairman in 1966, a position he held until his retirement in 1981. As Chairman he oversaw the merger of Rowntree & Co. Ltd with John Mackintosh & Sons to form Rowntree Mackintosh. He was knighted in 1972 and after his retirement he served as Chairman of Midland Bank.
In addition to his work for the Rowntree company, Barron also served as a trustee and later Chairman of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (then the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust) between 1966 and 1996, and was closely involved in the civic life of York. He was part of the campaign for the creation of a University of York, initially as Treasurer of the York Academic Trust from 1957, and then as York’s first University Treasurer from 1966 to 1972, and later the Chairman of the University Council from 1987 to 1990. He was also a member of the York Millennium Bridge Trust which commissioned and oversaw the creation of the Millennium Bridge and Riverside Walks adjacent to Rowntree Park, as well as holding positions with the Company of Merchant Adventurers, the York Civic Trust and the Sheldon Memorial Trust.
Barron died in December 2015 in York, at the age of 94.

Created by S.A. Shearn, 18.12.23.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Published

Final

GB 193